16. Disorders of the cranial nerves

Damage to the cranial nerves results in sensory function loss and/or the loss of facial motor control: hearing and sight may be lost, double vision or dizziness may develop, swallowing and speech may be more difficult, the face may become lopsided, or hypersensitive or numb. Cranial nerve problems can usually be traced and resolved. That is the case, for example, with viral infections, compression due to intracranial hypertension, medication poisoning, autoimmune disorders and the influence of meningitis. The theory underlying this chapter is discussed in Chap. 6 and 9. Here we discuss disorders of cranial nerves I-XII sequentially, including neuro-ophthalmology and neuro-otology.